What are the most recent TV shows were a majority of the cast has died - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 09-26-2022, 05:29 AM

I know that this is an extremely morbid question, but I thought about this after seeing a similar discussion pertaining to movies on Reddit. By cast, it can't be recurring players/frequent guest stars. In other words, it has to be someone whose name actually appears in the opening credits.

Night Court, which went off the air in 1992. Harry Anderson, Markie Post, Charles Robinson have all died within the last 10 years. And then there was Paula Kelly, who was a cast member for the first season, dying in 2020. There's of course, also Selma Diamond and her successor, Florence Halop, who both died in the middle of the show's run.

The Golden Girls is pretty much a no brainer at this point. It also went off the air in 1992. Estelle Getty was the first cast member to pass (in 2008), followed by Bea Arthur (in 2009), Rue McClanahan (in 2010), and finally, Betty White on New Year's Eve 2021, just before her 100th birthday.

Diff'rent Strokes went off the air in 1986 and yet, Todd Bridges is sadly, the only original cast member who is still with us. Dana Plato tragically died in 1999 at only 34 years of age. Gary Coleman would pass 11 years later when he was just 42 years old. Conrad Bain was able to hang on until 2013, when he died at 89 years old. Charlotte Rae meanwhile, was 92 when she ultimately died in 2018.

And then there's also Dixie Carter and her replacement on Diff'rent Strokes, Mary Ann Mobley. Dixie died in 2010 while Mary Ann died four years later. I guess, Nedra Volz (who died in 2003) counts also even though she was always credited as a guest star.

The Jeffersons went off the air a year prior to Diff'rent Strokes ending and yet, I believe that Marla Gibbs, Belinda Tolbert, Damon Evans, and Jay Hammer are the only principal cast members who are still with us at the time of this posting.

Yong Fang · 09-26-2022, 12:47 PM

Maybe The Golden Girls. My first thought was The Jeffersons where everyone has died except for Belinda Tolbert and Marla Gibbs. Everyone on Barney Miller has died except Hal Linden and Max Gail.

But probably the Golden Girls is the answer because the four players have died as well as the actor who played Stan.

BigManMike · 09-26-2022, 01:48 PM

Danny Cooksey (Sam) on Diff’rent Strokes is still with us too.

Yong Fang · 09-28-2022, 05:36 AM

Maybe another nominee is The Mary Tyler Moore show where literally all the main players have now died. John Amos and the girl who played Phyllis' daughter were secondary characters.

However, Betty White, Ed Anser, Cloris Leachman and Gavin McLeod lived to be over 90. Mary Tyler Moore had diabetes, health problems and smoked all of her life and lived to be 80, Valarie Harper lived to be 80. Georgia Engel to me died young at 70 and poor Ted Knight died in his early 60's. But the top four players above lived well over 40 years after the show ended.

Sort of sucks to watch the shows I grew up with in reruns and know that this actor and that actor are now dead. Death depresses me and like Woody Allen said "Im not scared of death, I just dont want to be there when it happens."

Coffeecup · 10-03-2022, 05:14 PM

Since most shows I watch are from the 1950-1970's most of the lead and supporting actors have died. I have been watching Tombstone Territory on GRIT station. A western type show from 1957 and ran for 3 years. Never saw the show til I tuned into Grit. The lead actor Pat Conway was a grandson of Francis R Bushman a silent screen star. Anyway I read on Wikipedia and to my shock Pat died at age 50 of cirossis of the liver cause by alcohol poisoning. To see the actor so fit at age 27 and read where his life ended does make you feel sad. His side kick can't think of his name but he later appeared with Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman. It is fun to see stars you never saw before

stevea · 10-03-2022, 06:29 PM

From The Bob Newhart Show Peter Bonerz and Newhart are still with us, but I can't think of anyone else. Maybe some members of Bob's group but I doubt it. From Newhart there is of course Newhart again, Julia Duffy, the guys who played the two Daryls, and the guy who played Kirk all still with us. I think I read Peter Scolari died, plus I know Mary Frann is gone. Tom Poston lived to a ripe old age.

09-26-2022, 05:29 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,062	What are the most recent TV shows were a majority of the cast has died I know that this is an extremely morbid question, but I thought about this after seeing a similar discussion pertaining to movies on Reddit. By cast, it can't be recurring players/frequent guest stars. In other words, it has to be someone whose name actually appears in the opening credits. Night Court, which went off the air in 1992. Harry Anderson, Markie Post, Charles Robinson have all died within the last 10 years. And then there was Paula Kelly, who was a cast member for the first season, dying in 2020. There's of course, also Selma Diamond and her successor, Florence Halop, who both died in the middle of the show's run. The Golden Girls is pretty much a no brainer at this point. It also went off the air in 1992. Estelle Getty was the first cast member to pass (in 2008), followed by Bea Arthur (in 2009), Rue McClanahan (in 2010), and finally, Betty White on New Year's Eve 2021, just before her 100th birthday. Diff'rent Strokes went off the air in 1986 and yet, Todd Bridges is sadly, the only original cast member who is still with us. Dana Plato tragically died in 1999 at only 34 years of age. Gary Coleman would pass 11 years later when he was just 42 years old. Conrad Bain was able to hang on until 2013, when he died at 89 years old. Charlotte Rae meanwhile, was 92 when she ultimately died in 2018. And then there's also Dixie Carter and her replacement on Diff'rent Strokes, Mary Ann Mobley. Dixie died in 2010 while Mary Ann died four years later. I guess, Nedra Volz (who died in 2003) counts also even though she was always credited as a guest star. The Jeffersons went off the air a year prior to Diff'rent Strokes ending and yet, I believe that Marla Gibbs, Belinda Tolbert, Damon Evans, and Jay Hammer are the only principal cast members who are still with us at the time of this posting.

09-26-2022, 12:47 PM	#2
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Maybe The Golden Girls. My first thought was The Jeffersons where everyone has died except for Belinda Tolbert and Marla Gibbs. Everyone on Barney Miller has died except Hal Linden and Max Gail. But probably the Golden Girls is the answer because the four players have died as well as the actor who played Stan.

09-26-2022, 01:48 PM	#3
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,022	Danny Cooksey (Sam) on Diff’rent Strokes is still with us too.

09-28-2022, 05:36 AM	#4
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Maybe another nominee is The Mary Tyler Moore show where literally all the main players have now died. John Amos and the girl who played Phyllis' daughter were secondary characters. However, Betty White, Ed Anser, Cloris Leachman and Gavin McLeod lived to be over 90. Mary Tyler Moore had diabetes, health problems and smoked all of her life and lived to be 80, Valarie Harper lived to be 80. Georgia Engel to me died young at 70 and poor Ted Knight died in his early 60's. But the top four players above lived well over 40 years after the show ended. Sort of sucks to watch the shows I grew up with in reruns and know that this actor and that actor are now dead. Death depresses me and like Woody Allen said "Im not scared of death, I just dont want to be there when it happens."

10-03-2022, 05:14 PM	#5
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	Since most shows I watch are from the 1950-1970's most of the lead and supporting actors have died. I have been watching Tombstone Territory on GRIT station. A western type show from 1957 and ran for 3 years. Never saw the show til I tuned into Grit. The lead actor Pat Conway was a grandson of Francis R Bushman a silent screen star. Anyway I read on Wikipedia and to my shock Pat died at age 50 of cirossis of the liver cause by alcohol poisoning. To see the actor so fit at age 27 and read where his life ended does make you feel sad. His side kick can't think of his name but he later appeared with Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman. It is fun to see stars you never saw before

10-03-2022, 06:29 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,646	From The Bob Newhart Show Peter Bonerz and Newhart are still with us, but I can't think of anyone else. Maybe some members of Bob's group but I doubt it. From Newhart there is of course Newhart again, Julia Duffy, the guys who played the two Daryls, and the guy who played Kirk all still with us. I think I read Peter Scolari died, plus I know Mary Frann is gone. Tom Poston lived to a ripe old age.